2 responses

– The difference between the US report and the CSA report for Hunter’s division is really big. I am inclined to think that the number McDowell reported is wrong. If Andrew Porter claimed in his after battle report that his brigade numbered 3,700 the day of the battle, then how could Hunter’s division (Porter+Burnside) number less than 3,000?

– The CSA report has a large force of unattached infantry. Who are these?

One of the points R. M. Johnston raised in his book was that the tables in the ORs were sometimes ORs themselves, and sometimes the work of the compilers. The above chart appears over Rhett’s signature, so I’m going to guess it is a record in and of itself. However, what we don’t have are the documents that support the charts – at least, not in the published ORs. I imagine the support for the tables is tied up in ancient red tape somewhere in the bowels of NARA.

As for the unattached USA infantry, I don’t know. The CSA OOB has a few unattached units, most notably the 6th NC, Hampton’s Legion, and Holmes. Perhaps the Confederates were assuming a similar percentage for their opponents?

Dulce bellum inexpertis

“I am sending you these little incidents as I hear them well authenticated. They form, to the friends of the parties, part of the history of the glorious 21st. More anon.”

About

Hello! I’m Harry Smeltzer and welcome to Bull Runnings, where you'll find my digital history project on the First Battle of Bull Run which is organized under the Bull Run Resources section. I'll also post my thoughts on the processes behind the project and commentary on the campaign, but pretty much all things Civil War are fair game. You'll only find musings on my “real job” or my personal life when they relate to this project. My mother always told me "never discuss politics or religion in mixed company”, and that's sound advice where current events are concerned.

The Project

This site is more than a blog. Bull Runnings also hosts digitized material pertaining to First Bull Run. In the Bull Run Resources link in the masthead and also listed below are links to Orders of Battle, After Action Reports, Official Correspondence, Biographical Sketches, Diaries, Letters, Memoirs, Newspaper Accounts and much, much more. Take some time to surf through the material. This is a work in process with no end in sight, so check back often!